How Much?

Recently I read an article in our newspaper that interviewed some of the military families living in the San Diego area.
It seems that with one of the spouses being ‘shipped out’ to the War zone, finances were very limited and some military families had to accept supplemental help from various agencies.
The reporter went on to make the comparison that the Hollywood ‘Stars’ that were so verbally bashing our President, military, country etc. had paid more for the clothes they were wearing to the Academy Awards than these military families received for a months pay.
The families were sacrificing in behalf of this kind of ....freedom of speech.

Freedom IS NOT FREE!
It costs dearly.....ask any military person or family.
Being a family survivor of two Vietnam tours.....I know the cost first hand.
And our “Dad/husband” returned home alive!
Needless to say, I have little patience for those whom I refer to as...
‘mistaken Americans”....

Another article told of a new group called...Operation Brave Kids which gives children $25.00 a month.....these are children whose parent is in the National Guard or reserves who have to leave children .
Family’s sign up for the program and each month get a gift certificate for $25.00 from the store of their choice. Some families choose Target, Wal-Mart etc. Others prefer Publix, Winn-Dixie or Home Depot in order to cover the household basics.
“The $25.00 might not seem like a lot, but for a mother with three kids, $75.00 is a lot of groceries.” said Doug McNamee one of the founders of the Tampa Bay league. So far in Tampa Bay, McNamee and about two dozen volunteers have raised $10,000 and signed up 120 children - including all 84 children of the reservists in Daniel’s unit. Tampa Bay Buccaneer Shelton Quarles and his wife, Damaris, recently joined Operation Brave kids.
“We just want people to understand what some of these military people go through, in terms of the financial hardships for them and their families,” Quarles said. “We’ll continue to do whatever we need to do...”
For information about the program, go to
www.operationbravekids.org
A quote from this site says this....
“Operation Brave Kids has opened a box of needs that is growing daily. Unable to meet monthly expenses, assets are sold, relatives are making gifts and loans and many moms are getting second jobs. One mother wrote, “I can’t tell you how much we appreciate the extra money to buy diapers for our infant, or just a few things for the household.”
But perhaps the most telling event came last week. A young mother of two infants asked for her gift certificates to be changed from toys to food. Her teary request was followed with the statement, “Thank you so much. When my husband comes home, we will pay you back.” They would. No protests, no calls to politicians, no teary interviews…they just accept their plight with dignity.”

How can anyone who calls themselves an American ignore the plight and cost of ......freedom.
The real “Stars” are not in Hollywood......they are the single soldier, the Mom’s and Dad’s and children......families who are committed to......‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness‘.....for their families and others around the world.... standing for what is right at ALL costs.
The firemen and policemen in the World Trade Center, the innocent people aboard airplanes, the unsuspecting victims going to work that day of Sept. 11, 2001.....cry out for the justice that is needed so that others need not die at the hand of an unmerciful tyrant either in America or any other part of the world.
FREEDOM is something that.....money can not buy.....
yet it costs more.....than some people are willing to pay.
A True American.......understands.